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The subject of mineralogy has moved away from the systematic treatment of mineral groups toward the study of the behavior of minerals in response to geological processes. It is vital that we understand the physics and chemistry of minerals as this response generally involves structural and chemical changes within individual minerals as well as reactions between minerals. This is the first text to provide an introduction to modern mineralogy for undergraduate students. The main, and often complex, concepts required to understand minerals and the processes that take place within them are presented in an easy to follow manner without any complex mathematical treatment. The book deals with solid-state transformations in minerals, which take place in response to changes in temperature and pressure, as well as introducing the basic crystallography, physics and chemistry needed to understand these processes. No knowledge of physics, chemistry and mathematics beyond high-school level is assumed.

'The most original earth science book of the year, a magnificent volume.' New Scientist ' ... most timely and welcome ... a valuable teaching resource. It brings mineralogy up-to-date ... If you want to learn for the first time about nuclear magnetic resonance, or Wadsley defects in rutile, or about ideas such as spinodal decomposition, incommensurate phases, or Landau theory, or just why minerals have the structure and properties they do then this book is for you: get hold of a copy!' Geological Magazine